Seasonal choice
In summer, use squash instead of the rutabaga or turnip.

1. Heat the oil in a large pan and add the vegetables, except the mushrooms, and salt and pepper to taste. Cover and cook gently, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour and stir for 1-2 minutes, then pour in the stock and bring to a boil.

2. Add the mushrooms, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Pour into 4 soup bowls, stir the parsley, and leave until cold. Meanwhile, roll out the pastry on a floured surface and cut out 4 lids for the bowls and 4 strips long enough to fit around the rims.

3. Stick the pastry strips onto the rims of the bowls with water. Brush the strips with water and press the lids on top. Decorate with pastry trimmings and brush with beaten egg to glaze, then bake in a preheated 400 degree F. oven for 30 minutes.

Puff Pastry

Making puff pastry at home takes time because the dough and the butter need to be folded, turned, and chilled many times for the pastry to rise in separate layers. Frozen puff pastry is very quick and easy to use, and an excellent substitute for homemade.

When rolling the pastry out, gently press the rolling pin from the center of the pastry to the edge while moving the pastry around, and try not to stretch the pastry or it will shrink during baking. If uncooked puff pastry is placed over a hot mixture the butter will melt and the pastry will not rise properly—this is the reason why the soup is cooled before the
pastry lid is placed on top.